Voting is closed in the search for SA’s cutest autumn baby of 2024
Voting has now closed in The Advertiser’s cutest autumn baby competition. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner.
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Voting is now closed in the search for South Australia’s cutest autumn baby.
When we called on proud parents to nominate their cherished arrivals born in March, April or May of this year, they sure did deliver.
Earlier in the year Milah Di Raimondo was named SA’s cutest summer baby after mum Nikki Degabriele shared her rare en caul birth story.
Stay tuned to meet the winner and while you wait get to know some of the top contenders below.
MEET THE LEADING AUTUMN BABIES
ALEXANDER GREENING, SEATON
Alexander began his life in the intensive care unit after his mum suffered from pre-eclampsia at 35 weeks’ pregnant.
This brave little man fought hard and is now “the happiest little baby” who loves to smile, talk and is always ready to pose for a photo.
ANNABELLE CHARLIE TREGLOAN, MOUNT BARKER
This precious girl was born at 37 weeks via an emergency caesarean operation after doctors realised she had stopped growing and was in distress.
“I think that day when we went to hospital to have Annabelle something was telling us that something wasn’t quite right so I think that was Charlie saying ‘get in there and get her here because we need her’,” her mum, Sophie Tregloan said.
BASIL MALEK-ELSON, SEACLIFF
Basil or ‘Bazzi Bear’ as he is known to his family is the first baby to parents Jarrad and Lenka.
“His heart-melting smile, full head of hair, bright eyes, and his many facial expressions give him a personality well beyond his nine weeks of age,” Mr Elson said.
DANTE CERAVOLO, COROMANDEL VALLEY
At just 17 days old, Dante was admitted to hospital and underwent multiple tests to discover he had a UTI.
This resilient bub was also diagnosed with laryngomalacia and now needs a nasogastric tube.
He has taught “a thing or two about strength” to his proud parents.
EVELYN FRENSCH, ANGLE VALE
At 37 weeks’ pregnant, Nicole Frensch took a photo of herself to mark a milestone she never thought she would get to after being admitted to hospital four times during her pregnancy.
At 20 weeks’ pregnant, she had an antepartum haemorrhage, which caused her placenta to detach from her uterus.
“The words I heard from the doctors, ‘you could give birth at any time and there’s not much we can do to save it’, haunted me for weeks until a reached a safer gestation,” Ms Frensch said.
Seven weeks later, the Angle Vale mum had the same haemorrhaging issues.
Eight days later, it happened again.
“Usually I’m pretty strong, but this time I broke, I just looked at (my husband) and cried, I didn’t want to go back to hospital again,” Ms Frensch said.
“My care was transferred to Lyell McEwin Hospital at 37 weeks after being told the blood flow to the brain was not quite right and my placenta wasn’t working as it should.
“We sure had a little fighter inside.”
Ms Frensch said her husband Justin and seven-year-old daughter were her “absolute rocks”.
“I was very nervous about the birth, but we welcomed beautiful little Evelyn on my birthday,” she said.
“I couldn’t ask for a better present.”
FLORENCE GERMINARIO, HECTORVILLE
“She knows how to strike a pose as you can see by the photo, has the potential to be a supermodel,” mum, Vanessa Germinario said.
HUXLEY MALLEN, BLACKWOOD
Despite enduring an “incredibly challenging” pregnancy, Jasmine Cocks said that she has been blessed with the perfect baby.
“Huxley is the most content baby we could ever wish for,” she said.
MILANA CUPCOVIC, ADELAIDE
Milana was known as the “princess of the ward” at Calvary Hospital in North Adelaide.
This beautiful girl was born in May, weighing only 2.9kg.
NALLA THOMAS, HALLETT COVE
Nalla is her family’s rainbow baby and carries the name of her great grandpa Allan, spelt backwards.
Her mum, Taylah Thomas said Nalla has “changed (their) world in the best way possible”.
SOPHIA ANDREACCHIO, NORTH ADELAIDE
Sophia has a reputation for being a bit of a diva.
“(She is) perfectly fussy in everyway,” parents, Anton and Emily Andreacchio said.
MEET MORE FINALISTS
After four painful miscarriages, three rounds of IVF, two unexpected diagnosis, one round of ovulation induction and thousands of dollars spent, a Northfield couple had nearly given up on their dream of starting a family.
The journey to parenthood was an “overwhelming and gut wrenching” experience for Vy and Francis Gubatina.
“I had always wanted to be a mum and that made is so much harder,” Ms Gubatina said.
But after four and half years of trying, by some sort of miracle, she took a pregnancy test and it was positive.
“I thought it was wrong,” Ms Gubatina said.
“I told my husband the same night and he was in shock.”
Against all odds, they had fallen pregnant naturally and after a “nervous” pregnancy, their biggest wish came true in April when baby Lawrence was born.
“The moment the doctor handed Lawrence over to me and I heard his first cry, I knew this was real and am forever grateful for the universe finally deciding it was our turn,” the new mum said.
“(Lawrence) taught me that miracles do happen and some things are worth waiting for.
“He is our definition of hope.”
Ms Gubatina, who discovered she had polycystic ovary syndrome and balanced translocation – a condition that increases the risk of infertility and miscarriages – during the more than four year journey said she was forced to advocate for herself and her health.
“My husband and my mum were my main supporters who kept me going when times were tough,” she said.
“I think my main advice to other women going through this is to advocate for yourself and push for what you need done.
“I pushed for a test that led to my balanced translocation diagnosis. You need to believe in your gut.”
Mr Gubatina also encouraged other women who are struggling with fertility to seek help, both from professionals and from support groups.
Now two months old “sassy” baby Lawrence has already mastered “side-eyeing” his mum.
Also among the autumn entrants is a second time mum who was almost forced to give birth after a service station after her husband paused his PlayStation game before making the mad hospital rush.
The Advertiser is on the search for the SA’s cutest autumn baby and among the nominees is Coco who decided she was in a hurry to enter the world and interrupted her parent’s relaxing afternoon on the couch playing PS5.
Hardeep Kaur said she remember Darvin Domantay saying he was saving the game
“I felt her kick and break the waters,” Ms Kaur said.
“The contractions got more severe and that was the moment I said let’s go to the hospital, she’s coming!”
By the time they left home the Forestville couple were met with a bumper-to-bumper “sea of red tail lights” on South Road blocking their path to the hospital.
“Contractions intensified and I couldn’t talk so I was screaming at the hubby, ‘I knew traffic would be the problem’,” Ms Kaur said.
“She had all day and she decides to come now.”
As Ms Kaur’s contractions became more regular and painful Mr Domantay was ordered to call an ambulance.
What followed next was complete chaos as he attempted to communicate with the triple-0 operator in heavy traffic as Ms Kaur screamed and before deciding they couldn’t go any further.
“The operator asked lots of questions like “is there a head”, hubby said ‘I can’t see I’m driving!’ she said.
“We pulled up at the Liberty service station and I said, ‘I’m not having this baby at a Liberty station for f*** sake!”
Within minutes the ambulance arrived and escorted the family to the emergency department and they arrived just in the nick of time to the delight of her overjoyed, yet exhausted, mum and dad.
“Hubby described traffic moving as when Moses split the ocean, thank goodness for the ambos,” Ms Kaur said.
Now four weeks old, Ms Kaur said Coco is a “hungry and sleepy” baby who is loved by her older brother, Bronson.
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Originally published as Voting is closed in the search for SA’s cutest autumn baby of 2024
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